Changing Free HDTV Deal after the fact - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

rfielder · 2008-02-22, 10:17 AM

Last November, I purchased a Samsung 40" LCD. Part of the deal was a year's free HDTV from Rogers.

So, I called, and was given a HD STB. All was good in TV land. At the time, I took the deal because it was free, and a chance to sample HDTV, but I also expected to be returning it after the year because we are almost never home to watch TV. At this time, I record everything on an HTPC, for viewing when we can.

I am now interested trying an HD PVR. Went into the Brampton Rogers store at Vodden and Kennedy last night, and asked about getting one. The staff told me that I have to call Rogers if I wish to upgrade the free deal.

It seems the original deal was either one year free HDTV or 6 months free HD PVR. At the time, I was not aware of this, and the paperwork from Rogers does not say anything about this - I checked when I went home.

The Rogers store staff was rather frustrated, since he gets a lot of people asking the same question, and they are always surprised that they should have been given the choice up front.

However, I called Rogers twice today, and two different reps told me that you are locked into whatever you originally get. No way to change the account. Which sucks big time, when you were never given a choice in the first place!

Anyone else run into this? Anyone find a way around it?

I don't want anything I don't deserve, but if this is something that should have been available, I am feeling somewhat ripped off. Not badly done by, since being an HDTV newbie, I might have chosen the STB had I been given the choice. At that time, I had never spent any time watching HDTV, and didn't realize how dramatic the difference can be.

Still, if there was a choice, it would have been nice to know.

What I really want is an HD PVR for two or three months, to see if this is something I want to spend the $$$ to get. The HTPC works well, but can only capture one channel at a time, and only from the SD analogue channels. A lot of the shows we like are available in HD, and are really nice to watch, when we have been home to catch them.

Thanks in advance!

hugh · 2008-02-22, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Anyone else run into this?

No. I signed up my father a couple of years ago and it was quite clear at the time. 12 months of an HD box or 6 months of an HD PVR.

This was confirmed by both the retailer and Rogers. I think your issue is with the retailer and not Rogers.

Which retailer did you buy your television from?

bgclarke · 2008-02-22, 10:25 AM

A friend of mine recently bought a HDTV and he was offered the choice of 1 year free HD STB or 6 months free HD PVR.

All I can say is once you go with a HD PVR, you won't go back to just a plain HD STB on your main TV.

rfielder · 2008-02-22, 11:28 AM

We purchased from Futureshop. We were almost at the register when the salesman came running up to ask if we were with Rogers. When we said Yes, he got the package for the HDTV Rogers deal.

It was not discussed at any time - we didn't know about it, and almost left the store without the deal.

My issue is with both Futureshop and Rogers, I guess. If I could find it in the paperwork, I would have no issue with them at all, but the page I have does not seem to say either way - just an activation number, and a phone number to call. It talks about having a product delivered or picked up, but it seems vague enough that it could be used even if they changed the offer.

What tipped me off was that the Rogers staff person in the store knew what had happened before I got half way through asking him my question about the PVR. Not sure if it is his opinion, or Rogers policy, that the Rogers person you deal with is supposed to ask you which you prefer (STB or PVR). Either way, he was not surprised that I had no idea what he was talking about, and frustrated since it sounded like he sees a fair bit of this.

If there is no way around this, so be it, but I thought it was worth at least asking......

57 · 2008-02-22, 11:36 AM

You may still be able to negotiate something with Rogers for a PVR instead of STB for a few months, but good luck. As with any "deal" it's caveat emptor. If you don't do your homework it's not incumbent on the retailer to advise you of the "best deal" or other options. (It was good of the sales person to provide the package on your way out)

The option of the shorter free time for the PVR has been discussed on this forum many times. Good Luck, or put it down to "lesson learned" and purchase or rent a PVR when you're ready.

hugh · 2008-02-22, 01:01 PM

They were pretty clear with me when I signed my dad up. One or the other and I can understand why.

I really think the blame is with Futureshop since they should have informed you of the possibilities.

From what I understand, the deal is actually administered through a promotions house and the retailer not Rogers.

mr weather · 2008-02-22, 09:40 PM

I got the starter kit with my 32" Aquos I bought last November. The salesman was completely silent on the issue of choice of STB and it wasn't until I called Rogers themselves to ask about the deal was I informed.

The documentation in the kit itself leaves a lot to be desired. Nothing about being able to choose one STB over another; nothing about 6 months versus 1 year depending on the box.

rfielder · 2008-02-22, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugh

From what I understand, the deal is actually administered through a promotions house and the retailer not Rogers.

As stated above, I called Rogers twice. It is a special group that handles promotions, but they seem to be Rogers staff all the way.

rfielder · 2008-02-24, 03:50 PM

Just to put closure on this discussion - I have rented a Rogers PVR.

In fact, I am on my third. First, they game me an 8000HD, which I returned unused. What I find amusing is that they pulled it out of the box and are sending it back to the factory, even though it was never out of the box at home....

Went to a different store and got an 8300HD. It had glitches on all channels - every few seconds, a little bit (sometime more than a little bit) of pixelation followed by a breakup of the audio.

The replacement 8300HD is now in place. Captured a 30 minute TV show this morning, and it seemed to be OK. However, the capture did end a little early, before the last scene complete and any titles were run. That seems odd.....

Watching TV with this third 8300HD, and I thought I saw some more glitches, but there was nothing in my recorded show. I have a few shows set up to capture and will test further. Until I know for sure, I am not going to be powering down my HTPC. Even if at SD, at least it captures a solid signal.....

Issues will the 8300HD will be in a seperate discussion, if one is needed, and if I can't find one already existing.

2008-02-22, 10:17 AM	#1
rfielder Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 1,519	Changing Free HDTV Deal after the fact Last November, I purchased a Samsung 40" LCD. Part of the deal was a year's free HDTV from Rogers. So, I called, and was given a HD STB. All was good in TV land. At the time, I took the deal because it was free, and a chance to sample HDTV, but I also expected to be returning it after the year because we are almost never home to watch TV. At this time, I record everything on an HTPC, for viewing when we can. I am now interested trying an HD PVR. Went into the Brampton Rogers store at Vodden and Kennedy last night, and asked about getting one. The staff told me that I have to call Rogers if I wish to upgrade the free deal. It seems the original deal was either one year free HDTV or 6 months free HD PVR. At the time, I was not aware of this, and the paperwork from Rogers does not say anything about this - I checked when I went home. The Rogers store staff was rather frustrated, since he gets a lot of people asking the same question, and they are always surprised that they should have been given the choice up front. However, I called Rogers twice today, and two different reps told me that you are locked into whatever you originally get. No way to change the account. Which sucks big time, when you were never given a choice in the first place! Anyone else run into this? Anyone find a way around it? I don't want anything I don't deserve, but if this is something that should have been available, I am feeling somewhat ripped off. Not badly done by, since being an HDTV newbie, I might have chosen the STB had I been given the choice. At that time, I had never spent any time watching HDTV, and didn't realize how dramatic the difference can be. Still, if there was a choice, it would have been nice to know. What I really want is an HD PVR for two or three months, to see if this is something I want to spend the $$$ to get. The HTPC works well, but can only capture one channel at a time, and only from the SD analogue channels. A lot of the shows we like are available in HD, and are really nice to watch, when we have been home to catch them. Thanks in advance!

2008-02-22, 11:36 AM	#5
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,301	You may still be able to negotiate something with Rogers for a PVR instead of STB for a few months, but good luck. As with any "deal" it's caveat emptor. If you don't do your homework it's not incumbent on the retailer to advise you of the "best deal" or other options. (It was good of the sales person to provide the package on your way out) The option of the shorter free time for the PVR has been discussed on this forum many times. Good Luck, or put it down to "lesson learned" and purchase or rent a PVR when you're ready. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2008-02-22, 01:01 PM	#6
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	They were pretty clear with me when I signed my dad up. One or the other and I can understand why. I really think the blame is with Futureshop since they should have informed you of the possibilities. From what I understand, the deal is actually administered through a promotions house and the retailer not Rogers. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

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2008-02-22, 10:25 AM	#3
bgclarke Veteran Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 1,606	A friend of mine recently bought a HDTV and he was offered the choice of 1 year free HD STB or 6 months free HD PVR. All I can say is once you go with a HD PVR, you won't go back to just a plain HD STB on your main TV.

2008-02-22, 11:28 AM	#4
rfielder Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 1,519	We purchased from Futureshop. We were almost at the register when the salesman came running up to ask if we were with Rogers. When we said Yes, he got the package for the HDTV Rogers deal. It was not discussed at any time - we didn't know about it, and almost left the store without the deal. My issue is with both Futureshop and Rogers, I guess. If I could find it in the paperwork, I would have no issue with them at all, but the page I have does not seem to say either way - just an activation number, and a phone number to call. It talks about having a product delivered or picked up, but it seems vague enough that it could be used even if they changed the offer. What tipped me off was that the Rogers staff person in the store knew what had happened before I got half way through asking him my question about the PVR. Not sure if it is his opinion, or Rogers policy, that the Rogers person you deal with is supposed to ask you which you prefer (STB or PVR). Either way, he was not surprised that I had no idea what he was talking about, and frustrated since it sounded like he sees a fair bit of this. If there is no way around this, so be it, but I thought it was worth at least asking......

2008-02-22, 09:40 PM	#7
mr weather Veteran Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,950	I got the starter kit with my 32" Aquos I bought last November. The salesman was completely silent on the issue of choice of STB and it wasn't until I called Rogers themselves to ask about the deal was I informed. The documentation in the kit itself leaves a lot to be desired. Nothing about being able to choose one STB over another; nothing about 6 months versus 1 year depending on the box.

2008-02-24, 03:50 PM	#9
rfielder Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 1,519	Just to put closure on this discussion - I have rented a Rogers PVR. In fact, I am on my third. First, they game me an 8000HD, which I returned unused. What I find amusing is that they pulled it out of the box and are sending it back to the factory, even though it was never out of the box at home.... Went to a different store and got an 8300HD. It had glitches on all channels - every few seconds, a little bit (sometime more than a little bit) of pixelation followed by a breakup of the audio. The replacement 8300HD is now in place. Captured a 30 minute TV show this morning, and it seemed to be OK. However, the capture did end a little early, before the last scene complete and any titles were run. That seems odd..... Watching TV with this third 8300HD, and I thought I saw some more glitches, but there was nothing in my recorded show. I have a few shows set up to capture and will test further. Until I know for sure, I am not going to be powering down my HTPC. Even if at SD, at least it captures a solid signal..... Issues will the 8300HD will be in a seperate discussion, if one is needed, and if I can't find one already existing.